Track-sanding machine.



Patented nec. 4,' |900. VE. E. CARPENTER.

TRACK SANDING MACHINE.

(Application led May 25, 1900..)

(No Model.)

@fm/Mw 1' cams PETERS w. PNDTQLIYHQ UNiTED STATES,

PATENT IrrIcE.

ELMER E. CARPENTER, OF WORCESTER, 'MASSACHUSETTS TRACK-SANDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,215, dated December 4, 1900.

Application filed May 25, 1900. Serial No. 17,912. LNo modeLl To @ZZ whom, t may con/cern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. CARPENTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Track-Sanding Machine, of which the following is a specication.

My invention relates to a track-sanding device which has been especially designed for use on electric cars; and one object of myinvention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient track-sanding device having the operative parts thereof located so that dust and ice will not be allowed to collect upon the same and so that the sanding device will always be ready for use.

A further object of this invention is to deliver the sand directly in front of the wheels, especially when going around curves,at which times the car-body occupies a different position with respect toits trucks than when running on a straight section of track.

To these ends this invention consists of the track-sanding device and the combinations of parts therein, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a fragmentary view illustrating part of an electric car provided with a track-sanding device constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the upper part of the valve-casing- Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the valve and the connections for operating the same, and Fig. 4 is a perspective View illustrating the lower part of the two-part valve-casing.

In order to provide a reliable track-sanding device which may be always depended .upon to remain in operative condition, I haveY found it essential that the sand should be kept warm and dry and that the Working parts of the track-sanding device should be located in such a way that dust and ice cannot accumulate thereon.

With these ends in view a track-sanding device constructed according to my invention comprises a sand-box, a pipe for delivering sand onto the rail, a two-part valve-casing, and a valve mounted to move transversely between the parts which constitute the valvecasing. The sand-box is preferably of a truncated or tapering form and may be located in any convenient position inside the car, preferably under one of the seats. A pipe extends down from the sand-box, and bolted or otherwise secured on the under side of the car-floor is a two-part valve-casing. The parts of the two-part valve-casing may be bolted together by means of iianges, and as the valve-casing may thus have a co1nparatively slight depth it Will stand high enough above the track on which the car runs so that dust or ice will not be liable to collect thereon, and, if desired, it lnay even be boxed in or inclosed..

' The larger number of electric cars which are now employed have the car-bodies mounted on trucks, two trucks having fou r wheels each being usually provided for each car. When one of the larger electric cars passes around a curve, the trucks do not stayin line with the car-body, and if itis attempted to deliversand direct from a sanding device mounted rigidly in the car-body the sand will be delivered either inside or outside of the track when the car is on a curve. To overcome this objection, I propose to employa flexible pipe having its upper end clamped on to the two-part valve-casing,while its lower end is connected to and moves with the truck, so as to deliver sand immediately in front of the car-wheel under all circumstances.

Referring to the drawings and in detail, the saud-box l0 of a track-sanding device, as herein illustrated, is of a one-side truncated or tapering form, said sand-box being preferably made of sheet metal and having its upper edges secured to the framework of one of the car-seats, the cushion Il of said carseat forming the coverof the sand-box. EX-

tending from the sand-box l0 through the iioor of the car is a short pipe l2, which connects to the upper section 13 of a two-part valve-casing. The construction of the twopart valve-casing is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 to t. As shown, the upper section 13 of the two-part valve-casing has an upper or supporting flange for bolting or securing the valve-casing to the under side of the car-floor and is also provided With a lower flange l5, having an extending arm 16, forming a truck or support for the movable valve which tits between the parts constituting the IOO two-'part valve-casing. The liange 15 is chamthe proportions and arrangement of parts in bered or cut away, as at 18, to receive the lever carrying the valve. The valve, which is mounted between the parts of the two-part Valve-casing, preferably comprises a sheetmetal plate 22, carried by an ari'n or1ever23. The arm or lever 23 is normally drawn back by a spring 24 to hold the Valve in its closed position. The arm or lever 23 is also connected by a cord or wire 25 to a bell-crank 26 ,V

which may be operated by a footpiece 27, located at the front of the car in position to be controlled bythe motorman. The lower part of the two-part valve-casing has an upper Harige 19 and an extending arm 20, correspending with the arm 16 of the upper section of the valve-casing. The ange 19 of the lower part of the two-part valve-casing is recessed or chambered out, as at 21, to receive the valve-plate 22. By means of this construction when the two parts of the valvecasing are bolted together' the lever carrying the valve-plate may be pivoted on one of the bolts, so that the valve-plate may swing or move transversely in thechamber or recess 21 of the lower part of the two-part valve-casing. When the valve is thrown wide openfor example, by actuating the-footpiece 27- the arms 16 and 2O will form supports for preventing its displacement o'r injury.

By employing a valve mechanism of thischaracter the operative parts of a track-sanding device constructed according to my invention may be located directly under the oor of the car and some distance above the track, so that they can be conveniently housed or boxed in-for example, by a housing or box B-if desired.

A pipe 29 extends down from the lower partof the two-part valvecasing,and clamped onto the pipe 29 is a exible pipe or hose 30. The lower end of the hose 30 extends through a clip or ring 3l, carried by the guard-frame F of the truck, and I prefer to arrange the parts in this manner in order to insure delivering sand immediately in front of the wheel W even when the car is going around a curve.

I am aware that changes may be made in a track-sanding device constructed according to my invention by those who are skilled in the art without departing from the scope 0f my invention as expressed in the claims.

. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited tothe details herein shown and described; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is-

In a track-sand`ing device,'the combination of a sand-box, a pipe extending from said sand-box through the floor of a car, a twopart valve-casing supported on the under side of the floor of the car, a pivoted lever carrying a valve-plate, and connections for operating the pivoted lever from the car-platform, the parts of the two-part valve-casing being secured together by flanges, the ange of one part being recessed to receive the pivoted lever, the Hange of the other part being recessed to receive the valve-plate, and said lianges having corresponding arms for supporti ng'the valveplate when open, substantially as described.

2. In a track-sanding device, the combination of a tapering or truncated sand-box lO located under a car-seat so that the cushion thereof forms the cover of the sand-box, a pipe 12 extending from the sand-box through the floor of the car, a two-part valvecasing secured on the under side of the carfloor, a pivoted lever 23 carrying a valve-plate 22, connections for operating the pivoted lever, and a flexible pipe or hose having its lower end movable with the car-truck, the upper section of said two-part valve-casing being recessed or cham bel-ed out, as at 18, to receive the pivoted lever, and the lower part of the two-part valve-casing being recessed or chainbered, as at 21, to receive the valve-plate,su bstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y Y ELMER E. CARPENTER. Witnesses:

LoUIs W. SOUTHGATE, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

